It Sucks to Defend a Faith or an Aspect of It Misguidedly

It was time for my usual late night news browsing on my tablet before going to bed and this news report by The Associated Press on Tuesday night (September 9th) caught my attention: “Missouri prepares for 8th execution of 2014” and “the 10th since November”. It was scheduled for 12:01 am, Wednesday. It’s quite a pity that by the time I was writing this piece, Earl Ringo Jr. (RIP), who was “convicted in a 1998 robbery and double-murder at a restaurant where he used to work” would have been death for more than 2 hours.

Its sad I thought and appalling that in our pitiful individual lives we still find room for justifiable reasons to play almighty gods. Deciding who dies, when and how. For acts we all have the propensity to commit. The thought of all these was unsettling for me. Not because I am an anti-death penalty junkie. But, because I frown at any arrangement that doesn't exalt mercy or focus on rehabilitation in love, than termination in a manner that showcases hate and callousness on lives we neither own nor made.

Source

On the account of these number of executions in one State, in such a short period of time and how disturbing it was reading about it, I decided to dig a little deep into the position of the state in some other issues bothering the nation presently. I searched for Missouri against the issue of gay marriage and this news popped up on google search: “Missouri to Supreme Court: Make a decision on gay marriage already". Since this wasn't really clear to me, I deiced to read further to find out why they were asking the Supreme Court to make a decision. What I discovered, which before now I haven't really paid much attention to is that the state is one of out of there others that completely banned same sex-marriage.

To me, this was ironic to me, and I thought to myself, a State that kills these number of inmates in a year, is also fighting to protect traditional marriage? What’s going on here? For what purpose are they fighting to keep marriage solely between a man and a woman? What sort of harm are they envisaging that the LGBT community will bring upon the state if they allowed to marry? Is family functionality and human flourishing really in danger here? Or is it a matter of Faith. But, I guess the fact that five major religious groups joined the state and more than 30 others to send message to the Supreme Court as reported, makes it a no brainer.

What do you think about the death penalty in relations to the Bible?

It’s a matter of Faith and defending an aspect of it. As my mind continued to ponder on this, again I asked myself: Which Faith are they actually defending? Is it the same traditional Christian Faith which commands faithfuls saying: “Thou shall not kill”? Or is it a hybrid Faith which picks and chooses aspects that it finds conducive to defend, while turning its back on another that doesn't suit a narrow definition of what God judges as right? I guess the later makes reasonable sense to assume as what is actually going on. If that is the case, what would the LGBT community and their supporters do, to get same-sex marriage classified along side executions in Missouri? So that it can be happening in the numbers like executions. Please can someone tell them? As long as it doesn't involve violence or any form of anarchy, I am sure they will listen. Am sure they will be willing to pay the price, no matter what it will take to be seen and treated jus like the rest.

Source

Missourians, it may be good to realize that God may be more lenient in His judgment sit, if one is accused of violating what was merely implied as abomination in Leviticus 22:8 than on one who directly violates a commandment He went out of His way to deliver to men, as stated in Exodus 20:13. But, who am I anyway to be taken seriously? Since, am sure many progressives like me have drawn this sort of conclusions, and tried to plead to your consciences on this matter to no avail. All the same, since the whole matter was heavy in my heart, I thought I way in on it anyway. Hoping that Faith combined with realism can find a place in the hearts of the men and women who have been entrusted with the fate of the fundamentals of this nation, which is supposed to guarantee equality and protect liberty and freedom for all who call America the "Home of the Brave," irrespective of their sexual orientation or Faith.

Source

Yet, it may be good to note, that it sucks to defend a Faith or an aspect of it misguidedly. Better yet: A Faith that its attributes are defended misguidedly, sucks! Think about it, the same Faith that calls homosexuality an abomination calls killing, no matter what the justification is a bridge of God’s direct commandment. In addition, it portrays capital punishment as necessary, while also calling for all of us to bear mercy in our hearts. Making sure to always express it towards others as that’s the only guarantee that God Himself will do same for us (James 2:13). If for any reason we can justify execution, though lives are taken in the process, let’s also work to increase the number of weeding bells that ring for same-sex couples in Missouri as well. Let them actually ring louder than the anguish of the inmates being executed and families experiencing the loss of loved ones. All for the sake of the Faith.

Comments

No HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked. Comments are not for promoting your articles or other sites.

sending

Author

Obinna Donald Ogba 2 years agofrom Los Angeles

Hey Superkev, I grew up as an average Christian and have never considered myself a theologian. So, yes I may not have theologian in-depth understanding of the bible, but I do know what it says. The Christian faith I know doesn't really endorse "putting to death" just like "murder". My understanding of what the Faith preaches and what the bible says, especially in the New Testament, putting to death is something we can avoid. Since it doesn't give us the opportunity to show mercy. Remember, I don't approve of what the guy did, but we can do better than him, I think.

Superkev 2 years ago

Then you have zero understanding of the bible and what it says.

Your choosing to use an inaccurate translation does not make it so.

There are two different Hebrew words (ratsakh, mut) and two Greek words (phoneuo, apokteino) for “murder” and “killing.” One means “to put to death,” and the other means “to murder.” The latter one is the one prohibited by the Ten Commandments, not the former. In fact, ratsakh has a broader definition than the English word “murder.” Ratsakh also covers deaths due to carelessness or neglect but is never used when describing killing during wartime. That is why most modern translations render the sixth commandment “You shall not murder” rather than “You shall not kill.”

Author

Obinna Donald Ogba 2 years agofrom Los Angeles

I do understand the difference between murder and killing! But I choose to use the translation of the bible with "thou shall not kill" instead! Or am wrong in doing that? All the same, I was talking about the idea of taking any life. Even if in the name of judicial capital punishment or murder. I just don't think any should take another's life. This includes the action the guy took. And if you find justification to take life, then, you should also find justification to condole other things that the bible directly speaks against, just as killing!

Superkev 2 years ago

It's "thou shalt not murder". There is a difference between murder, what this guy did, and judicial capital punishment.